epidemic

In my experience the areas of true red, where there is no black tipping, tend to remain red, though areas of red with the appearance of having been over sprayed with black spray-paint tend to turn black with age.
While the red coloration doesn’t actually intensify with age, it doesn’t really fade all that much either. Robert has and produces what are, in my opinion, some of the reddest D. couperi available, so I am certain the 2.2 you acquired from him will retain a great deal of their coloration. Perhaps we can convince Tony to post an updated photo of “Flea”, as an example of what to expect from specimens produced by Robert, with time and good care…

Best regards,

Jeff